JOIN USThis advisory comes in continuation of the directives issued by the ministry on November 27 and December three, 2008, following the coverage of Mumbai terror attacks by the electronic media that apparently even provided vital updates to the terrorist handlers regarding movement of the security forces.
In the earlier directive, TV channels were asked to exercise caution while providing coverage to the incidents to avoid any adverse consequences on the rescue operations.
The fresh directive seeks to advise the channels against allowing terrorists from airing their views.
The directive can assume significance in the context of wide coverage by TV channels of Maoist leaders like Kishenji, even though the Maoists have not been labelled as “terrorists” by the government. Referring to a prominent TV channel’s telecasting of a phone interview with a dreaded terrorist who tried to internationalise the Kashmir issue using the electronic media, the advisory says, “This kind of coverage can cause confusion amongst domestic and international audiences.”
“The interviews with terrorists have also provided a platform to them to justify their nefarious activities and obtain coverage on prominent channels... Such undue coverage to terrorists and allowing them to air their views freely can jeopardise national security as well,” it says.